My 5'x5' Table build

[mag409]

After many years of researching my brother and I finally started building our own CNC plasma cutter. We started about 6 months ago and worked on this off and on while doing other things. We started last weekend on getting this thing done.

Some Specs:

Table cut capacity of 62"x62"
Using Hiwin rails and bearing blocks
Driving with steppers and gear heads with 3 arcminute backlash specs
Gear heads are 10:1 on the table axis and 5:1 on the gantry
Using timing belts to drive both axis'
The z is a floating head with a parker daedal ballscrew drive.
Gantry is all aluminum
Main frame is 2x6 1/4 wall tubing with 2x2 1/4 wall legs and base all resting on machinery feet.
Will be using a Hoffman computer enclosure to house electronics, plasma unit and computer.

Most parts were bought through ebay and some others I was able to pick up at a local auction for an industrial company.

I just ordered a Hypertherm powermax 65 yesterday. It has a three week leadtime so that is the time we have left to get everything done before it arrives.

Some pics of the build so far.

[tmbg]

heheh I said the same thing when I ordered my powermax 45. I had the table steelwork done, and said "awesome, get everything else done before the cutter arrives". It took me over a year to finish, and I'm still not really DONE done

[multiplex]

nice build! what controls are you going to use?

i'm jealous of your 65! having bought the 1000 about 6 months ago

[mag409]

I'm using the Dragoncut package from Candcnc. I debated on whether to build my own controls or go with a complete package and decided the package was the way to go for me. I'm a mechanical guy and the electronics stuff intimidates me a bit. Using Mach3 with sheetcam. My new to me computer arrived yesterday so time to load the software and play a bit on the bench.

I am excited about the new powermax 65. I think it will be the best of both worlds handling the 1/2" capacity I wanted and the thinner art stuff.

Mike

[mag409]

One month later.....Should be in the testing stages this weekend. Enjoy the pics!!

First pic shows the tensioning system.
Second shows the belt clamping system.
Third shows the drive pulley that we made with zero backlash.
Fourth shows how we mounted the gearheads and steppers through the frame of the table
Fifth pic shows the mess that is the wiring right now.
Last pic shows the shields I installed to keep hot sparks from hopping on my belt. Lets hope it works.

[mag409]

A few more pics...Limit and home switch mounting and an overall of the front.

[pinjas]

Nice looking table, I was wondering, why did you decide to use full belts instead of belting?

[mag409]

Originally Posted by pinjas Nice looking table, I was wondering, why did you decide to use full belts instead of belting?

If I understand your question, I didn't want to have the weight of the motors travelling with the gantry.

[pinjas]

Originally Posted by mag409 If I understand your question, I didn't want to have the weight of the motors travelling with the gantry.

Interesting, I don't know the weight of motors, but I can't imagine them to weigh a lot. I wonder what the holding torque of your motors are.

It looks like you made the table out of steel, and as you stated, made the gantry out of aluminum. That seems like a good idea.

Did you paint the table for a reason outside of aesthetics? The only other reason I can imagine would relate to corrosion. I like your garage, looks like most things seem to have their place.

You took a picture of what looks like two boxes with white doors standing erect, what is it? It kind of looks like a version of a fridge.
I am very curious about these box like shapes that seem to be on the early pictures of your table. It looks like the inside walls of the table are slanted and have outlines for windows on them all around. Also, what are those things on the corners of the legs of the table? They look like flat casters or something. Thanks for answering my question. I never would have guessed that you used closed timing belts so you could offset the weight of a stepper.

[AHuff]

If the OP see's any errors please correct me. Great looking build though. Would love to see a video once its operational. What are you plans for dust control?

Originally Posted by pinjas You took a picture of what looks like two boxes with white doors standing erect, what is it? It kind of looks like a version of a fridge.

Computer cabinet.

Originally Posted by pinjas I am very curious about these box like shapes that seem to be on the early pictures of your table. It looks like the inside walls of the table are slanted and have outlines for windows on them all around.

Slat holders, see post #6 picture 3. Should make more sense.

Originally Posted by pinjas Also, what are those things on the corners of the legs of the table? They look like flat casters or something.

Machinery feet/levelers.

[mag409]

I'm building a separate room in my shop to house the table. This room will be vented to the outside through a filtering sytem.

The belt is not a closed loop. The ends are open under the belt clamp on the gantry. The reason for open ends is so that the belt can be pretensioned in either direction that the gantry will be moved. This removes the possibility of the belt moving in the clamp under a direction change. The lighter the gantry the better the machine will perform in terms of accelleration and decelleration. This helps keep the corners and transitions sharper.

As far as painting it goes, I like it to look finished even though it won't stay that way for long.

[mag409]

I got everything done on the table with the exception of hooking up the plasma unit. Here are a couple of short videos of the unit running a simple g-code program of a square with chamfered corners, a homing video, and one of the belt drive in action. Nothing too exciting. Still need to work on the motors a little more and find the sweetspot.

YouTube - Square cut with chamfers
YouTube - Homing
YouTube - beltdrive